Racing v Real Madrid preview: Mourinho’s side visit unbeaten-at-home Racing without Vinícius
Racing v Real Madrid sees Mourinho's in-form side travel to El Sardinero without the suspended Vinícius Júnior, against a promoted Racing team unbeaten at home.
Racing v Real Madrid brings José Mourinho’s side to El Sardinero for the first time in 15 years, with newly promoted Racing Santander unbeaten at home and Vinícius Júnior suspended.
Main image: DSN graphic.
The La Liga match kicks off at 3.15pm UK time on Sunday. Real Madrid have won their last five games in all competitions, including a 2-1 Clásico win at Barcelona, and need another to keep pace after Barcelona and Atlético Madrid both won on Saturday.
Racing v Real Madrid: Sardinero fortress meets the in-form giants
Racing are back in the top flight after winning the Segunda División last season, and only four years after playing in the third tier. José Alberto López’s side sit mid-table with three wins, two draws and five defeats from ten league games.
Home is where they have done their damage. Racing have beaten Alavés and Elche at El Sardinero and drawn with Villarreal and Valencia, but they have lost all five league games on the road, including a 7-2 thrashing at Barcelona. Last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Espanyol, a side whose struggles we covered in our Villarreal v Espanyol preview, lifted the mood again.
Striker Yassir Zabiri, on loan from Rennes, is the man to watch. He has eight league goals in ten games, including a hat-trick against Elche. Left-back Jorge Salinas is reported to be suspended after his fifth booking of the season, and Simon Eriksson is out with a shoulder injury.
Mourinho without Vinícius and Rodrygo
Mourinho must do without Vinícius, who is banned for this league game but available for Wednesday’s Champions League trip to AEK Athens. Rodrygo (knee), Ferland Mendy (hip) and Raúl Asencio (leg) are also out, while Federico Valverde and Thibaut Courtois are being assessed after hamstring and illness concerns.
Kylian Mbappé, who scored both goals in the Clásico and has 11 league goals this season, leads the attack. He has put behind him the knee problem that saw him leave the France camp in September. Jude Bellingham and Arda Güler are expected to support him.
Key numbers
| Racing | Real Madrid | |
|---|---|---|
| League record (W-D-L) | 3-2-5 | 8-0-2 |
| Form | Unbeaten at home in the league | Five straight wins, all competitions |
| Top scorer | Zabiri, 8 | Mbappé, 11 |
| Key absentees | Eriksson, Salinas (ban) | Vinícius (ban), Rodrygo, Mendy, Asencio |
| Last league meeting | Real Madrid 4-0 Racing (Feb 2012) | |
History is on Madrid’s side
Real Madrid have won nine of the last ten meetings. Racing’s last win in the fixture came in April 2007, and the last game at El Sardinero, in September 2011, ended goalless.
Racing’s return comes at a bright time for Spanish football, with the national side still perfect after beating Czechia 3-1 in October. Mourinho, meanwhile, has never hidden his views on the calendar: our sister site DGBN reported his warning that a three-week international break was a concern.
